Skate guard



May 31, 1938. Q DAY 2,119,075

SKATE GUARD Filed Sept. 7. 19s"; 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 22 1 20 2/ 22 a I I M2 W o I r Inuefitor 5 22 flimzfiiag By M 5m Attorneys May 31, 1938. D Y 2,119,075

SKATE GUARD Filed Sept. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /5 /.9 23 0 o I 1 I I l o o 7 l 3 i o 1 I o l I l o O 1""1 I o g o 7 Q Inventor 4: 1975072 dfiay.

Attorneys Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlE SKATE GUARD Alton 0. Day, Roseland, N. J.

Application September 7, 1937, Serial No. 162,784

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to that class of appliances and accessories embodying skaters equipment, and has more particular reference to a structurally new and novel ice skate guard of the sandal-type designed to facilitate walking with skates on.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the inconvenience of attaching skates at the pond has gradually brought into vogue a now well established practice of attaching the skates at the club house or sometimes at home before starting on the journey to the pleasure spot. Moreover, since it is difficult to walk on skates any appreciable distance, and as such walking would prove ruinous to the skate blades, different types of shields of temporary walker treads are recommended.

As implied by the preceding paragraph, I am sufiiciently conversant with the general state of the prior art to appreciate that the use of ice skate guards is not an original concept. In fact, I realize in making my entry into this specialized field of invention, I am confronted with protector attachments of variegated styles and forms. It follows, therefore, that my principal objective is to improve upon such prior devices through the adoption and use of a structurally singular guard assembly believed comparatively unique and more aptly fitted for the intended purposes.

In keeping with the underlying principles of my presently adopted construction, I have found it expedient and practicable to employ a twin or dual unit assembly wherein the units are properly shaped for walking and coordinated by connecting means calculated to promote the desired flexibility considered to be the cardinal improvement.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like details and parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a duplex-style, self-accommodating ice skate guard constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the frontal or so-called toe unit.

Figure 5 is a similar view observing the heel unit in Figure 1 in a direction from left to right.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the details.

As before indicated, the guard, as a unitary assemblage, is made up primarily of a pair of complemental or companion toe and heel units 7 and 8, respectively, and they have common structural characteristics in that each is in the nature of a channelled or grooved sheath adequately designed to receive the blade portion of the conventional ice skate (not shown).

The unit 7 is made up of wood and includes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal side blocks 9 adjoined in spaced parallelism along their lower edges by a cleat-like runner or tread strip ID. This arrangement provides the aforementioned channel-shaped receptacle or sheath for the complemental portion of the runner or blade of the skate. .As a unit, this part I may be said to have its front end tilted forwardly and downwardly, as indicated at H, to terminate in a pointed tip I2. The rear edges of the side members are curved, as at l3, to facilitate walking in snow or on yieldable frozen ground. The major portion of the bottom of said unit slants upwardly and forwardly on the approximate plane indicated at M, where it converges toward the tip l2. At the juncture of the thus obtuse angled surfaces l3 and I4 is a rounded portion l5 forming a fulcrum designed to aid rocking on the ball of the foot, so to speak, as has been found to be advisable to overcome clumsiness and inconvenience found to be evident in completely fiat-faced tread-equipped devices exemplified in certain prior art structures heretofore recommended for use. Incidentally, this particular type of a sheath, as indicated at 1, has been found to be expedient and practicable to facilitate driving ones automobile. This makes it possible to put the skates on at home and to drive the automobile to the skating pond or other equivalent point.

Referring now to the heel sheath or unit 8, it will be observed that this has certain common characteristics in that it includes spaced parallel side blocks l6 joined together at their lower ends by a jointing cleat l1 nailed or otherwise secured in place, as indicated at Ill. The blocks l6 are generally approximately rectangular in form with the rear ends curved to accommodate a metal plate or shield l9 forming a closure as well as an abutment for the adjacent end portion of the skate.

The two units 1 and 8 are adjoined in cooperative relationship and proper alignment through the instrumentality of metal tie straps 20. These are adjustably attached at opposite ends, as indicated at the points 2|, whereby to permit sufiicient play to exist to allow slight relative movement of the parts 1 and 8 with respect to each other and to thus enhance the features of adaptability and to provide what is in effect a flexible walking shoe for an ice skate.

The wooden wedges 22 are secured in proper angular relation on the outer sides of the units 1 and 8 to permit anchorage thereon of the, end portions 23 of the saddling or harnessing straps. Suitable straps including buckles 24 are generally employed whereby to allow the device tobe satisfactorily strapped on the foot of the wearer.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within. the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A temporarily usable walking shoe designed for use in conjunction with an ice skate comprising a pair of relatively swingable and tiltable units for reception of the skate runner, said units being in the nature of sheaths flexibly adjoined in cooperative shiftable Walking relationship.

2. A skate guard of the class described comprising individual heel and toe units adapted for reception of the blade of the skate, and means pivotally adjoining said units together to allow movement of one in relation to the other.

3. An ice skate guard embodying sheath means for reception of the blade of the skate, saidmeans being provided on its bottom at a predetermined point with a fulcruming rocker member to facilitate walking.

4.. An ice skate guard of the class described comprising an auxiliary walking shoe including complemental heel and toe units and tie straps adjoining adjacent ends of the units in spaced longitudinal alignment.

5. An ice skate guard of the class described comprising an auxiliary walking shoe including complemental heel and toe units and tie straps adjoining adjacent ends of the units in spaced longitudinal alignment, the heel unit including spaced parallel side members and an end plate constituting an abutment for the adjacent end of the skate.

6. An ice skate guard of the class described comprising an auxiliary walking shoe including complemental heel and toe units and tie straps adjoining adjacent ends of the units in spaced longitudinal alignment, said toe unit being channel-shaped in cross-section and open at opposite ends, the outer frontal end being tapered and pointed, the inner rear end being curved rearwardly and upwardly and the intermediate tread portion being fashioned to provide a rocker as described.

"I. A skate guard of the class described comprising a heel unit substantially rectangular in side elevation, channel-shaped in cross-sectional form, having a flat bottom and a closing plate at one end constituting a skate abutment, and a bodily movable companion toe unit swingably adjoined thereto.

8. A skate guard of the class described comprising a heel unit substantially rectangular in side elevation, channel-shaped in cross-sectional form, having a flat bottom and a closing plate at one end constituting a skate abutment, a toe unit movably adjoined thereto, said toe unit being channel-shaped in cross-section, longitudinally elongated, open at opposite ends, with its frontal portion inclined downwardly and the intermediate part of its basal tread portion convexed to provide a fulcruming element.

ALTON C. DAY. 

